-- to elect a new pope like the sudden and unusual retirement of pope benedict xvi, the selection of a new spiritual leader for the world's 1.2 billion catholics could offer some breaks with tradition. >> you have a number of cardinals now who are from africa, south america and asia. i think it would not be a shock if we had somebody from one of those places. >> reporter: santa clara university's father michael mccarthy says the cardinals have always at least in the last several centuries picked a european priest. but this time, those considered top contenders are from around the world and third world including: >> it's always a mystery what the college of cardinals thinks when they gather. but i do think that they are aware that catholicism is increasingly becoming a global reality. >> reporter: many parishioners coming to saint joseph's cathedral in san jose are praying for the cardinals and hoping that the new pope will usher in a new era for catholics. >> i'd like to find a person that can keep some of our old traditions but also be progressive and maybe have women priests and so